.jpeg?width=1200&auto=webp&crop=3%3A2)
British sprint star Amy Hunt feels Sydney Sweeney's controversial betting advert could act as a “barrier” to getting young girls into sport.
Sweeney's ad for American betting firm Novig features the actress covering her naked body with a variety of sports equipment and has prompted a significant backlash from female athletes.
Hunt, who won four gold medals at the recent European Athletics Championships, has been one of the most prominent critics and is worried that promoting sport in such a way could be off-putting for many.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said: "I think when we're trying to provide role models for young people and young women in sport, we really want to show that it's about what your body can do, not so much what it looks like.
"I think when we see the stats of 64 per cent of young girls drop out of exercise and sport before they reach the age of 16, we don't need to place any kind of barrier whatsoever in their way in terms of providing the opportunity and the empowerment for them to still exercise, whatever that looks like, professional or kind of just going to do a ParkRun with your friends.
“So, it's about empowering young girls and young women and young people to show that you really can just get out there and you don't have to worry what you look like, you don't have to worry about what you're wearing.”
She stressed that sport was not about looking attractive, highlighting that it is often the complete opposite.
"Sport, it's not pretty, and I think that's the thing to get to the level that we're at,” she added.
"It's shown to people that being aspirational and trying to be elite is something amazing, and you should really want to be the best version of yourself you can be.
"And that doesn't always look attractive, and that doesn't always look nice. Sometimes it looks like throwing up in the corner of the track, or I've had sessions this year where I've been crying afterwards.”
Hunt, who stressed she had nothing personal against Sweeney, said she had been delighted to see the reaction to the advert from the sporting community, saying that it had “outweighed the (original) moment”.
